AW Laings have secured the Contract to build a new 4 bedroom Croft House on a bare-lands croft site in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. The contract is due to start January 2010, weather and snow permitting. 

The design of the new dwelling is intended to recreate the traditional building form and materials associated with rural Steadings throughout Strathspey. However the construction of the new dwelling is contemporary in its use of materials and their associated energy efficiency and environmental performance.

It is hoped that this project will help the CNPA set new sustainable design standards: at the core of these the minimisation of CO2 emissions will be achieved by adopting a 3-layer strategy:

• Build Tight & Insulate Right – reduce demand for energy input
• Use of Renewable Energy – and plan for future energy supplies
• Use Local Skills, Materials & Suppliers – minimise carbon miles

1 - Dwelling Construction - Build Tight & Insulate Right 

The timber frame construction is insulated to current building regulations mineral wool products with formaldehyde-free binders and made from bio-based materials (instead of petroleum-based chemicals) which is up to 70% less energy intensive. These insulation products contain no dye or artificial colour, are free from CFC’s, HCFC’s and any other material with ozone depletion potential in its manufacture and content: classified as Zero ODP and Zero GWP.

In addition to this basic level of insulation a second internal wrapping layer of insulation has been applied. This secondary insulation material eliminates all thermal bridging as it is applied to the inside face of the structural frame construction; performs as internal ‘air barrier’ ensuring airtight construction and provides for the ducting of all electrical & plumbing services ensuring detailing that prevents air leakage of the construction system. This insulation material comprising outer layers of coated metallised film with the core of the product consisting of layers of polyester fibre wadding separated by metallised film layers.

The novel combination of these insulation systems provides a cost effective super-insulated building envelope and significantly reduces the energy load required for heating purposes.  

2 - Renewable Energy – Heating & Hot Water Systems

A heating strategy that balances the type of dwelling, the site-specific location and the requirements of seasonal variation has been developed. Each of the systems has been chosen to operate with degrees of efficiency depending on the time of year, outdoor air temperature and homeowner preferences.

A high efficiency wood burning stove located in the principal warm / living space at the centre of the building is used in conjunction with a ventilation heat recovery system augmented by geothermal ground collectors heat-pump and solar panels to provide a seasonally balanced and resource efficient heating & hot water system. The ventilation heat recovery system eliminates the need for multiple envelope penetrations and electric fan motors as required by traditional room extract vents.

3 – Use Local Skills - Materials & Suppliers 

The main dwelling construction uses C16 grade structural timber frame construction. Only this grade of structural timber can be sourced from local sawmill suppliers. External building timberwork & cladding is specified as Scot-Larch sourced by Russwood Ltd in Newtonmore.  Overall a light-weight on-site construction system requiring no specialist installers, equipment or lifting equipment. 

The Main Contractor for the project is a well known family business A W Laing, based in Grantown-on-Spey. Each of the sub-contracted Trades is based within a 20mile radius of the site with the associated multiplier effect of the local supplier network, ensuring where possible that the value of this small project is retained within the Cairngorms National Park economy.

Greig Munro, for AffordableTM Ltd - Chartered Architects

A Room with a view - our new workspace.  Our new workspace - a Room with a View. Not quite this view but very similar.The new AffordableTM office is of compact design using the best of local trades and materials. Built by John Harris of Findhorn. 

Externally the building has been clad in Larch boards, painted 'off-white' to blend in to the background of Findhorn Conservation Village with the new copper roof slowly oxidising to a 'sea-green' patena. Large sliding doors give a huge view out to Findhorn Bay with external 'sun louvers' that can be drawn to keep out the ravages of stormy days.

Breathing wall & roof construction has been used to give a balanced indoor environment, with PanelVent sheathing board, recycled plastic bottle insulation and Knauf ecose rock wool insulation products. External rain screen Larch Cladding supplied by Russwood Ltd of Newtonmore. Windows & Doors were built by Russell Construction Moray Ltd.

Internally Horizontal Larch lining boards and a black pre-finished Oak flooring was also kindly supplied by Russwood. 

All together a small haven in which to contemplate .... perhaps larger projects.

Winter comes to Findhorn

AffordableTM Ltd moves offices - this sounds really grand but its not supposed to be. Over the last few years we have had the time to decide what is important to us - our conclusion - an office that is that is warm, light & airy with a magnificent view of our local surroundings - Findhorn Bay & Culbin Forrest. 

Reduce the carbon footprint and minimise the use of natural resources - this is the mantra for our design work but it is also something that we firmly believe in.  Why build more when we actually need less?

Advances in technology, off-site data storage and telecoms mean that we do not need large office premises or staff for our design work; we would hope that we do not need it for our Clients either. Instead the perfect room: simple and uncluttered, a place of solace and concentration. 

We are really looking forward to our new workspace "The Sail Loft" which is located in the grounds of 156 Findhorn. Luckily all the phone and email numbers will remain the same. Estimated move in date end February 2010.

It is always great to get National News coverage of a project that has been completed for a while.

The Larch House in Findhorn was one of the first projects completed by AffordableTM when the business was first established now over 7 years ago. It was also the first Zero Carbon House completed in Moray and has since won a number of Regional Design & Environmental Awards.

Please see below a link to the Sunday Times, this is an abridged version with less photos of the article printed in the Property Section:

http://property.timesonline.co.uk

Sustainable Design Category Nomination

Greig & Kathleen were really chuffed to find out that the Moray Art Centre has been shortlisted for the 2009 Scottish Design Awards - Sustainable Design Category.

"This is an amazing achievement, you should see credentials of the other designers shortlisted ...... all are major international offices ..... and here is us, AffordableTM Ltd, a small regional design practice sharing their stage."

"Of course we are going to to the Gala Dinner and the Awards Ceremony in Glasgow next month. Just to be among party is reward enough for us!"

For more details see:

http://www.ScottishDesignAwards2009

Update on Friday, June 5, 2009 at 8:39AM by Greig Munro

So there we are - The Scottish Design Awards have come and gone. Greig & Kathleen had a great night out in the big smoke, at what turned out to be the Glasgow equivalent of the Baftas or Academy Awards. More pomp and ceremony than was really needed but ...... we enjoyed it.

The Moray Art Centre nomination was well received but unsurprisingly pipped by the £10 million Edinburgh University Campus project. Oh well - may be next time. 

Please see the link below for the final display of Scotlands great and good design for 2009. And thanks to all those who voted for us and the Moray Art Centre.

http://www.scottish-design-awards/